This unusual story is about the Louisiana Acadians of long ago. Pamela Morsi did a great deal of research and it shows in the realism of the sights and sounds of the bayou country. She did a wonderful job of explaining the customs of the Acadians (who, in more recent times became known as the Louisiana Cajuns).
At the start, I was absolutely underwhelmed with the heroine of this story -- Aida Gaudet. In todays parlance shed be called an airhead; although regularly forgetting to feed her father seemed beyond the scope of a mere airhead.
In case you miss the several hundred times it is mentioned, Aida is the beauty of the Vermillion River area. She is engaged to the most handsome man in the area, Laron. However, Laron is in love with a destitute German widow, who has 3 children. Laron keeps pushing the wedding further away; Aida is aware of her intendeds relationship with the German woman, but says nothing.
The first third of the book dragged; too much time was spent explaining that Aida was beautiful and all the guys (from 15 to 90) were in love with her -- even Laron's best friend, Armand. However, Armand is a man of small stature (due to a severe childhood illness), who has become the judge of the area because he is the most educated man.
Aida accepts the fact that the German widow is (and will continue to be) Larons mistress because Aida knows she is admired for her looks but will never be loved for herself. In a fit of jealous anger, Armand tells about Larons mistress and causes events to spin out of his control.
Because he is a good man, Armand tries to set things right again. But fate is uncooperative and Armand becomes ever more embroiled in Aidas life while trying to get Laron and Aida to the altar.
Fortunately, Aida grows and changes as she becomes the next designated treater a woman trained in the herbal arts. I was convinced the author could not grow Aida enough to match the strength and substance of Armand but I was wrong. This is a lovely tale of six interwoven lives that is very satisfying.
At the start, I was absolutely underwhelmed with the heroine of this story -- Aida Gaudet. In todays parlance shed be called an airhead; although regularly forgetting to feed her father seemed beyond the scope of a mere airhead.
In case you miss the several hundred times it is mentioned, Aida is the beauty of the Vermillion River area. She is engaged to the most handsome man in the area, Laron. However, Laron is in love with a destitute German widow, who has 3 children. Laron keeps pushing the wedding further away; Aida is aware of her intendeds relationship with the German woman, but says nothing.
The first third of the book dragged; too much time was spent explaining that Aida was beautiful and all the guys (from 15 to 90) were in love with her -- even Laron's best friend, Armand. However, Armand is a man of small stature (due to a severe childhood illness), who has become the judge of the area because he is the most educated man.
Aida accepts the fact that the German widow is (and will continue to be) Larons mistress because Aida knows she is admired for her looks but will never be loved for herself. In a fit of jealous anger, Armand tells about Larons mistress and causes events to spin out of his control.
Because he is a good man, Armand tries to set things right again. But fate is uncooperative and Armand becomes ever more embroiled in Aidas life while trying to get Laron and Aida to the altar.
Fortunately, Aida grows and changes as she becomes the next designated treater a woman trained in the herbal arts. I was convinced the author could not grow Aida enough to match the strength and substance of Armand but I was wrong. This is a lovely tale of six interwoven lives that is very satisfying.
